Unlike some other South American wedding traditions, Paraguayan weddings are typically quite simple in nature. If you are of Paraguayan descent and would like to honor your heritage, or you’re simply interested in this country’s wedding culture, here are some interesting Paraguayan wedding traditions.
Borrowed Wedding Dress
It’s not uncommon for Paraguayan couples to borrow a wedding dress from close friends or family members. Even things like flowers, special wedding dishes and cutlery are all borrowed for the celebration.
Personally Delivered Invites
Because Paraguay has a fairly unreliable mailing system, wedding invites are gifted personally. It’s therefore a sweet gesture that Paraguayan couples are able to give their wedding attendees.
No Honeymoons
Instead of spending their hard-earned money on a getaway, couples invest in necessary items like clothes and furniture to build their new life together. Honeymoons are a foreign luxury that most Paraguayans simply can’t afford.
No Expectation of Gifts
If you ask a Paraguayan couple what they wish for their wedding, they might seem surprised. There’s generally no wedding registry and couples are happy for whatever gifts they may receive. Practical gifts are usually the best form of appreciation – things like silverware, furniture, or other useful household items are typically more gratefully received than impractical romantic gifts such as flowers or jewelry.
Nighttime Weddings
Most Paraguayan weddings will start on Saturday nights at eight o’clock in the evening or possibly even later. Forget about a midday reception – Paraguayans come alive at night. You can expect the party to go into the early hours of the morning.
13 Coins
If it’s a Christian wedding, the couple will receive 13 coins at some point during the ceremony. The coins represent Jesus and his twelve apostles and are gifted as a blessing of good luck and prosperity for the couple.
Music Without Dancing
If it’s a Christian wedding, the wedding party will most likely have music but it’s seen as inappropriate to dance. The one exception to the rule is the Blue Danube Dance. This traditional waltz is performed by the bride and her father to kick off the night’s festivities.
Officiate a Paraguayan-American Wedding Ceremony
Don’t miss the opportunity to officiate a Paraguayan-American wedding ceremony for one of your friends or family. You can get ordained online for free with a number of online organizations by just filling out a simple form that only takes a couple minutes to complete. We highly suggest getting ordained with American Marriage Ministries. Once ordained, you’ll have access to a library of information to help you learn all the aspects of wedding from writing your speech to filling out the marriage license. Ordination with AMM is only valid for officiating weddings within the U.S. so if you plan on officiating a wedding internationally, you’ll have to look into local laws.
In the spirit of Paraguayan weddings, getting ordained online is another great way to keep the ceremony inexpensive and intimate.
– Bernard Paul